It's not easy for a newbie.

[maxprime94]

Hey everyone,

My name is Max, I'm a college student and have been trying to grow my own food now for a couple years. During these years, I've come to realize that I DON'T know everything about gardening and sometimes I'm not even sure I know what I am doing! I think I'm going to love this forum and hopefully I'm going to learn new things!

My set up (sort of):
During the winter I grow vegetables in my apartment (I occasionally have issues keeping them from wilting or getting attacked by some sort of plant bug)
During the summer I grow both indoor and outdoor
I own an Aerogarden as well
I live in Ottawa, Canada. (winters are harsh)

I'd love to hear tips about indoor or outdoor gardening
Thanks!

 

[sammybe]

Welcome! I am going to try growing some lettuce indoors this year. It 's my first try with an indoor vegetable.

How have you liked the Aerogarden? I have always been intrigued by these but have never tried one.

 

[marlingardener]

During these years, I've come to realize that I DON'T know everything about gardening and sometimes I'm not even sure I know what I am doing!
Max, I've been gardening for almost 40 years, and I could have written the above. Gardening is a constant adventure with surprises (mostly pleasant) along the way.
For outdoor gardening, I'd advise starting small so you don't get overwhelmed. Also, start with relatively easy vegetables like radishes, bush green beans, and bush squash. Pay as much attention to your soil as you do to the plants--check for moisture, have the soil tested, and add only as much fertilizer as is needed. Fertilizer is a definite case of more is NOT better! And, start a compost pile. That alone is one of the very best things you can do for a garden.
Let us know how you progress, please.

 

[maxprime94]

Sammybe: That's a great Idea! I actually started with lettuce since it was referred to me be as being easy. It turns out great for me all the time and it's actually what I used my Aerogarden for! I really like it because it can stay put in a location that normally doesn't get much light and it grows all year long. Only thing is you've got to replace the light bulbs every 6-8 (can't remember!) months, I have used even without having replaced it after 8 months but I'm sure the plants could have grown faster If I would have. All the Aerogarden stuff is available at my local Canadian tire (Hardware & garden store) so it's worth it even If I have to purchase at 10-20$ light (again I don't fully remember!).

 

[maxprime94]

marlingardener: Thank you for your advise! I honestly had never thought of those vegetable to try and it's funny because I enjoy most of them although, I have never tried bush squash! Guess now is a good time to start, eh? (pun intended). It's perfect because I've been starting to get tired of the same vegetables I've been growing (tomatoes,lettuce,peppers,carrots,garlic,ginger... I'm very experimental haha), I needed a winter vegetable like squash! Also, how would you recommend starting a compost pile, because I have been thinking about it for a while now, just not sure how to start... I live in an apartment so it isn't as convenient!

 

[JessiFox]

Welcome MaxPrime, I'm a beginner as well so I don't feel entirely confident giving tips but maybe we can learn together? I'm doing the majority of my gardening indoors as well, and there's definitely a variety of challenges that can go along with that. I hope you get some good advice here .

 

[marlingardener]

Max, since you are in an apartment, consider Bokashi composting. I don't do it (we have room for outdoor compost piles) but I've been told by small yard/apartment dwellers that it works well. Perhaps someone here can fill you in on details.
We started our two piles by selecting a low place in the barn lot, and just piling weeds, kitchen scraps (no meat, no oil, no dairy), and anything else that was handy like the chicken coop cleanings, then letting it slowly rot down, adding a gallon or two of water when it looked dry (you want a damp sponge effect, not a quagmire). Our piles are contained by pallet fences to allow air circulation but keep the piles somewhat contained.
Bush beans, bush squash--that just means that the plant form is compact and more upright than the running, vining beans and squash. I think they could be candidates for large containers.

 

[ChanellG]

Max, since you are in an apartment, consider Bokashi composting. I don't do it (we have room for outdoor compost piles) but I've been told by small yard/apartment dwellers that it works well. Perhaps someone here can fill you in on details.

I actually started a thread here on bokashi a while back. I think an indoor worm bin would be simpler, though if someone did decide to do bokashi they could "compost" things you can't put in an ordinary compost bin. I never got around to trying it because I had success outdoors with a small storage bin for composting.

 

[DancingLady]

Gardening is a process of learning and experimenting and continually trying new things. No two seasons are alike. You will never know everything, but you will certainly learn a lot. I sounds like you are off to a great start though. Welcome and I hope you find lots of great ideas here.

 

[kevinkimers]

Hey everyone,

My name is Max, I'm a college student and have been trying to grow my own food now for a couple years. During these years, I've come to realize that I DON'T know everything about gardening and sometimes I'm not even sure I know what I am doing! I think I'm going to love this forum and hopefully I'm going to learn new things!

My set up (sort of):
During the winter I grow vegetables in my apartment (I occasionally have issues keeping them from wilting or getting attacked by some sort of plant bug)
During the summer I grow both indoor and outdoor
I own an Aerogarden as well
I live in Ottawa, Canada. (winters are harsh)

I'd love to hear tips about indoor or outdoor gardening
Thanks!

I have the same problem. I try to learn as much as I can but its forums like this that really help. You can talk to people who are actually growing what you are trying to grow and have done the "trial and error" so that you don't have to. It's also great to have the support of others when you are working at it encouraging you to keep trying even when you fail.